In the run-up to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, José Luis Mendilibar spoke to the media ahead of his team’s crucial and exciting game against Juventus FC. The Basque coach, after completing the last working session before the match on Wednesday morning, compared the tie against Manchester United with the current one against the Italian team: “The most important difference is that we played the first leg very well and United Not against. The result was the same, a draw. Playing so well the other day gives us the confidence to play the same way at home. Not playing so well in Manchester gives you doubts. That’s the difference between one tie and another”.
On his good relationship with the squad, he explained that he still has to get to know his students: “I don’t know the relationship with the previous coach, I know what I have. I’m very close to him, with who I want to be.” They are not all the same. Some are more open and others with whom you have to be more careful. I want to get to know people. Still, two months is not enough to get to know them”. When asked about Suso, he said that not all players get into the same situation: “Suso didn’t say it’s for the beginning or the end. They don’t all get into the same situation and they all want to be there.” want.” , It is good for me. They all want to be there to compete and play, not for photos. There are some doubts with some whether they can finish the game or not. I’ll have to play it after talking with him”.
“If they expect us to control, we have to be patient”
Asked about the game Juventus will play, he focused on the work his team has to do: “I don’t know how they’re going to come out, if they’re going to come out waiting for us or not.” . I don’t think they’ll give us the ball, they’ll want to take it, hurt us with the ball. Be right when it comes to pressing, defending and making it difficult for them to get off the ball. If they expect us to control Will be doers, we have to be patient We must start with patience without compromise.
Talking about the importance of the match, he commented on the desire with which he approaches each match of his career: “It is one of the most important matches, although they are all important. I think you Have been in smaller competitions and put the same desire into it. It’s a European semi-final, it’s very important, but also very important not to have so many people in front of me.” José Luis Mandílibar also praised the naturalness with which he and his coaching staff have prepared the match: “Calmly and mindfully, without driving the players crazy, because the week has been quiet. A lot of things about the opponent’s mind. Without putting in. players. We have seen a few more of the opponent, a week ago we played against them and we have it fresh. We care about ourselves”.
“I love the enthusiasm of the fans, we’ll see tomorrow”
The coach also commented on the excitement the fans breathed: “Not a player, I don’t know about the fans. I’m calm, I don’t get mad seeing what anybody says. Not now or in any other game. I Guess it’s good the fans are excited, we’ll see it tomorrow. Neither the coaching staff nor the players are talking too much about the game and neither are we going crazy about the game. About our renewal Answering a new question, he focused on the importance of finishing the season well: “From the beginning I signed for three months and I’m happy. Some of you raised your hands. The team isn’t dead, it’s very much alive. It is important to finish what we started well.”
“It’s not to touch a key, otherwise it will be too easy. The results have been good from the start, sometimes the games haven’t been so good. It’s the confidence of the player. If you do it well, you have Won a lot “If you have faith in training and you see that things are going well, they will also come out in the game. I have told him many times, he has a lot of quality. He has seen the simplicity sometimes also gives results”, the Sevilla coach pointed out. On the return of players like Bremner to Allegri’s team, he delved into the good defensive work his team must do from the opening whistle: “When there are guys like this, you want your team not to defend. In the zone if you don’t want fouls near your zone and corners, you have to defend far away from your zone. It is best to defend so that such good guys are not around.
“We would be happy to play the semi-finals and win the seventh”
Finally, he highlighted the good work that Basque coaches are currently doing: “Since I’ve been in the first division, Basque coaches have always won, something will happen. There are Basque coaches in LaLiga, Premier and many other places. We will have something. We are in the semi-finals. We would be happy to play in the final and win the seventh, but you have to have respect for Juventus, they are a great team and few have what they have.”
